Flying-machine.



T. A. BRING.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED nuns, 1910.

1,034,429; Patented. Afig. 6, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR.

TADPZW WITNESSES.

T. A. BRING. FLYING MAGHINE.

APlfLIUATION FILED MAY 26, 1910.

1",O34,429. Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

2 SHEETS-"SHEET 2.

//v VENT 0R.

' TADrI/ng *nnrrnn srarns PATENT ora ion.

THOMAS AUGUSTUS name,

OF TROWBRTDGE, ENGLAND.

FLYING-MACHINE.

ain and Ireland, and residing at Sunny Bank, Trowbridge,.in the county of Wilts, England, have invented new and useful Improvements iri Flying-Machines, of which the following-is a specification.

, This invention relates to flying machines of the heavier-than-air type, and it has primarily for its object enabling such machines to rise directly in the vertical plane and also to soar or poise. I attain this end by utilizing the underlying principle which governs the flight of such insects as the humblebee and the house-fly, which lift andpropel themselves by creating vortices in the air immediately above their bodies. The wings of these insects .when in action 'each have a rotary motion in a conical path mainly or entirely above the level of the body, the apices of said paths being coincident with the roots of the wings. The actions and reactions produced in the air by this movement of the wings sustain the insect against the downward pull of gravity, and as the insect has the power of varying the angle of rotation of its wings it can :-(a) lift itself in a vertical plane; (6) travel forward or backward by varying the angle of rotation of its wings; and (0) turn to the right or left by inclining one rotating wing forward and the other backward. I carry this principle into practice by using two or more devices adapted to produce in the air the same effects as are produced by the wings of these insects. These deviceswhich' I call vortex lifters each consist of a shaft adapted to be rapidly rotated and carrying a plurality of radial blades or vanes, constructed and arranged as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which shows by way of illustration some methods of carrying this invention into practice Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation, partly 'in section showing one form the machine may assume; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view in plan thereof; and Fig. 3 is a transveise section on line A A Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5, 6 and 7, 8 and 9, 10 and 11 are views in elevation and plan respectively showing various ways the blades or vanes of the vortex lifter may be arranged. Figs. 12, 13, and 14, show,'respec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 26, 1910.

Patented Aug. 6,1912.

Serial No. 563,631.

view, of portions of the operating devices, drawn to a larger scale.

marked with like letters of reference.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The body (Z of the machine, which may be made of any suitable construction and material, preferably takes the form of a boat and :is providedwith four vortex lifters, two being arranged toward one end of the machine and the other two toward the other end, the arrangement being such that with each pair operating. alike and set. to lift vertically the machine will be-lifted on an even keel. The two shafts c of each pair of vortex lifters are preferably driven by an independent motor c, but this is not obligatory. The motors may be of any suitable type and construction. On each side of each motor a is a gear case f which carries the shaft 0 of the vortex lifter anda shaft h at right angles thereto, said two shafts being geared together by a worm and worm wheel or other suitable gearing. The shafts h are mounted in suitable bearings It, 11. which are mounted on the framework of the machine in such a manner that the lifting stresses can be imparted through them, and ,said shafts are connected with the crankshaft 6 of the motor 6 by universal joints Z. The two gear cases of each pair of lifting devices are connected to two controlling wheels at and n by any suitable mechanism so that the simultaneous inclination of the can be effected by one of the said wheels, and the inclination of said vortex lifters in opposite directions by the other wheel. A convenient mechanism is that shown in the accompanying drawing which consists of a quadrant 0 pivoted on a plate p adapted to slide in suitable guides and to be. moved therein by means ofthe wheel m, said plate being connected to the gear cases f by means of the links 79 and the rockinglevers p Gearing with the quadrant o is a worm e secured on a shaft 6 on which the wheel 11. is mounted.

' In the construction illustrated one pair only of the vortex lifters are arranged to have their angles of inclination varied for the horizontal plane, the other two being mounted in fixed bearings, but all four may Throughout the views similar parts are tively, a side view, a plan view, and an end 5 two vortex lifters in the same direction I the purpose of propelling and steering in prevented'from rotating about itsown axis tex lifters may have one or more pairs of volving.

I invention.

4 ing an eccentrically arranged bearin common axis, one blade or vane a of each arranging the blades or vanes is shown in the axis of be so mounted and connected without departing from the spirit and scope of this L The vortex lifters may either be constructed and arranged to operate in identically the same manner as the wings of the insects hereinbefore referred to, in which case each ,has 'a. single blade or-vane as shownin Figs. 8 and 9, said bladebeing given a rotary movement in a conical path about a fixed point and at the same time by mechanism such as that shown in aforesaid .views, which consist of a shaft 0 on which is mounted the blade or vane a, of a aft 0 to-one end of which the shaft '0 is attached by means ofa suitable universal joint 0", of a driving shaft 8 mounted outside the fixed shaft 0 and of a plate It mounted on the driving shaft e and carry- 0 for the shaft 0 To avoid the complication which this construction involves the 'vorblades or vanes as shown in Figs. 4, 5,6 and 7 which are arranged to rotate-about a pair being arranged with its surface at right angles to'thedirection of its motion and the other blade or vane a of each pair with its surfaces edgewise to the direction of its motion. V

The preferred form of constructing and Figs. 10 and 11.

I Three flat blades a are arranged radially of the shaft 0, and are lower ends.- The outer edges 3 of these blades are arranged at an acute angle to the shaft 0, so that the said blades describe an inverted cone when re- Although the machine has been described as having a plurality of vortex lifters, it will be evident that only one such device may be employed if the shape and construc-. tion of the machine is such that its resistance to rotation in the air is sufiicient to overbalance the thrust of the vortex' lifter.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a flying machine, a combined lifting and propelling device, comprising a revoluble shaft, and a plurality of flat blades or vanes mounted on said shaft and lying in radial planes in relation thereto, the outer edges of-said blades or vanes being arranged at an acute angle to the axis of the shaft so that they describe an inverted the said shaft with their to be rapidly rotated, vanes mounted on a common hub or center cone when revolving.

2. In a flying machine, a combined lifting I luble shaft, and a plurality of flat blades or vanes having their lower portions secured to the shaft and their main port-ions projecting above its upper end, said blades or vanes'lying in radial planes with their outer edgesarranged at an acute angle to its axis, and adapted to describe "an inverted cone when revolving.

3. Ina flying: machine, wit-ll: two lifting and propelling devices, eac plurality of fiat blades or vanes-arranged in radial planes around-the said shaft with their outer edges arranged and adapted to describe an inverted cone when revolving; of adjustable shafts at various angles with the vertical.

4; In a flying machine, the combination,' with two lifting'and propelling devices, each revoluble shaft, and a plurality comprising a of blades or radially around outer ed es arranged atan 'acute'angle to its axis, and

vanes secured adapted to describe an inverted cone whenv revolving; of means for supporting the said adjusting mechanism i shafts side by side, for moving the said shafts simultaneously in one direction to various angles with the vertical, and separate adjustin devices for moving the said shafts in di erent directions to various otherangles 'fwith' the' vertical.

comprising a shaft adapted to be rapidly rotated, pairs of blades or-vanes mounted on a common hubor center on said shaft. said blades having their outer ends wider .than theirinner ends, one blade or vane 'of each pair being arranged with its flat surfaces at ri ht angles to-the direction of rotation and the other of eachpair with its edges at right tation, as set forth.

6. In a flying machine, a liftin pelling device comprising a'isha adapted pairs of blades or on said shaft said blades having their outer ends wider than their inner ends, one blade or ,vane of each-pair being arranged with its fiat surfaces at tion of rotation and the other of each pair the combination,,

comprising arevoluble Shaft, and a 5. ha flying machine, a lifting device angles to the direction of'ro-h means for supporting the said and pro- I right angles to the direcwith its edges at r'ght angles to the direction of rotation, and means for varying the angllf at which said device operates, as set fort a THOMAS AUGUSTUS. DRING.

Witnesses:

R. T. WILLIAMS, H. D. JAMEsoN. 

